Thursday, 16 June 2011

"Take no thought," says the text; but we must not suppose that it teaches carelessness and idleness. The words "take thought" have changed their meaning since our translation was made in King James's time. Our Lord does not say there is too much thought in the world; there is far too little; He does not even say that we are not to think of what we eat or drink. It is want of thought that makes drunkards and gluttons. No, we want more thought, but less anxiety and care. "Take no thought," in our English now, would be "be not anxious," "be not fearful," for God will provide for you, as He does for the birds of the air."

From a Lenten sermon which stemmed from Matthew 6:25-26.

'Temperance for Body and Mind' dwelt largely upon teetotalism although a full transcript was published in The Dietetic Reformer and Vegetarian Messenger of July 1883.

Acknowledgements

In most cases the above excerpts have appeared in Vegetarian Society journals dating back to 1849. It is with thanks to the VS for their generous policy towards the reproduction of archive material that this project exists.